Quick Synopsis

Keeping hearing about gut health and wondering what the big deal is? We’ve got your back (and your gut) with this quick guide outlining how to improve gut health — what it is, how it affects your health, and what to eat (and avoid) to keep things in balance and feel your best.

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The Full Story

Did you know there are 39 trillion microorganisms in your digestive tract? Why does this matter? Well, it turns out these trillions of microorganisms, AKA your “gut biome,” affect your health big time.

First, let’s cover what the gut biome actually is. It’s the two-pound ecosystem inside you that contains thousands of types of bacteria and microorganisms. These types of bacteria differ for each person based on environment, age, stress levels, and a whole smorgasbord of other factors. The gut biome is important because it’s the frontline of your immune system. It aids digestion by breaking down dietary fiber, synthesizes vitamins and minerals, notifies your brain to secrete insulin, and helps you efficiently absorb nutrients.

So what happens when our gut bacteria is off balance?

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5 Ways Gut Health Affects Your Body

1. Your Digestive Tract

The microbiome lives in your digestive tract making the digestive system the first thing affected by its health. From small discomforts like heartburn or constipation to bigger issues like Crohn's disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, your gut flora influence it all.

Pro tip - skip highly processed fatty foods to avoid inflammation that often causes these ailments

2. Your Cancer Risk

Is there a relationship between gut flora, diet, and cancer? Research suggests yes. This study reveals a more plant-based diet can help repair the gut biome and produce more short-chain fatty acids in your body which suppress cancer cells from growing.

3. Your Arthritis

Most people don’t realize it, but arthritis is an immune disorder. It involves the body attacking its own cells, like those of the membranes that line the joints. This causes inflammation, discomfort, and pain. This study showed that patients with newly diagnosed untreated Rheumatoid arthritis had an increased level of Prevotella copri present — a gram-negative bacteria found in your gut that increases inflammation and symptom severity.

4. Your Mood

Did you know that 90% of your serotonin receptors are actually located in your gut? Well, it’s true. And Harvard doctors studying the relationship between diet and mood found that processed foods don’t make the cut when it comes to boosting your mental health. Plant heavy and anti-inflammatory diets, on the other hand, were found to be protective against depression.

5. Your Blood Sugar and Weight

Type 2 Diabetes and obesity are two of the most common chronic conditions in the United States and our gut can kickstart or exacerbate both. Yale researchers found high-fat diets may increase the level of acetate in the body. Acetate is a short-chain fatty acid that tells your brain to release insulin and eat more. Too much acetate causes a cycle of over-eating and insulin release, boosting the risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes.

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